Jean J.King

After a 6 year start with another prestigious travel agency, Jean, together with her late husband, Roger W. King opened King Travelways as a retail travel agency in 1977. The object was to serve the traveling public 'with a difference'. Their mission was to arrange travel with honesty, thoughtful attention to detail and individual care. Every trip, every person, was special. Almost immediately the agency began designing cutom-made tours, many of which were not only conceived and marketed by Jean, but escorted by Jean and Roger - always with the emphasis on the integrity of the individual needs, that they not be thought of as part of a 'herd'. Through years of networking with trusted colleagues around the world they have built up a group organization to handle many types of tour requirements. This philosophy and skill in people handling has developed into a specialty with a strong core of clients. Now, not only their own individual loyal clients are participants in their tours, but they have added a number of prestigious university alumni associations, museums, clubs, and other organizations, as well as family groups celebrating special occasions. Jean's knowledge of world destinations is hard to match. She is a lifetime CTC (Certified Travel Counselor), and an expert BritAgent. Favorite destinations? She is totally at home in London, loves many eastern European countries in addition to Austria, Germany, France, and Italy. The best destination of all would be a toss up between a river cruise and an African Safari. Jean is a loyal alumna of Mount Holyoke College and is always pleased to be traveling with fellow 'uncommon women'.

William J. King

Bill King started with King Travelways in 1980 - at the very bottom of the travel chain - even though he had traveled many miles throughout his childhood with Jean & Roger, accompanying their wanderlust. And it rubbed off! Bill's wife Susan was at that time a valued travel counselor with King Travelways, where they met. The only regret is that the agency lost a wonderful staff member, but together they have continued the legacy and now there are four more little Kings! Bill is now VP and Treasurer of King Travelways. He is a serious travel counselor and handles our corporate clients with genious and finesse. He is a 'problem solver' par excellance. Also, he is very much involved with the group business, designing and escorting tours. His favorite itineraries involve outdoor adventure. His African safaris are legend. Ask him about the Kilimanjaro climb - or horseback riding in the Costa Rican jungle - or pony trekking in Iceland. He has honed his bargaining skills with the natives to a fine art. Family groups are also a specialty, as he is expert at handling and mentoring children through fun and educational experiences.

Susan Heald

Susan's love for travel goes back to her childhood, moving around as a 'Navy Brat'. Now settled down with husband and child, she has found her travel niche at King Travelways. Graduating top of the class at WorldTek Travel School, she started with 'total immersion' into the travel business and has become a top staff counselor. She specializes in individual vacations, and sends our business clients to all points on the globe. Expert in Disneyword, cruises, worldwide tour packages, she herself has traveled the US, Caribbean, and the UK. She recently returned from a family vacation in the Turks & Caicos in an all-inclusive resort and says it's the only way to go!

Who's the little chatterbox - the one with all the curly locks ? No, it's not little orphan Annie, but our Barbara. She charms everyone with her smile and sincerity, which you can almost feel over the 'phone. Barb is a graduate of Briarwood College's Travel & Tourism Department. In addition, she worked for many years in the banking industry, so has great business background. She started with King Travelways as an intern in the in the summer of '95, and by fall was a full time travel counselor. She knows the Caribbean like a book. Aruba is her second home, but she is equally knowledgeable in Las Vegas, Disneyworld, and on cruises. She has traveled extensively outside of the USA as well, to Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland. Barbara is the office manager at King Travelways, and is the account manager for a number of our corporate clients.

Charlotte Chardenet

We are so lucky to have Charlotte as part of the King Travelways' team. In her former life, she was on the other side of the fence. She was DSM (District Sales Manager) for Sabena Airlines for 30 years, so is an expert in the mind set of our airline partners - especially the international carriers. She handles all of our group flight records, negotiating the best fares, and ticketing the most difficult flight itinerary. She has a long-standing relationship with the UConn undergraduate study abroad programs, and is now handling our special low fare routes into Africa. Do we have bargains? Yes, indeed. Charlotte is expert in other areas as well. She is an excellent French cook, and she skiis like a whiz - she met husband Bob on the slopes!

Deb Crary

Deb is Director of Alumni Travel and Assistant Director of Marketing at UConn, but wears her King Travelways hat one day a week as she travels to this office to work on her groups which we handle. She spent 13 years at UConn working for the Graduate School, and has been with the Alumni Association for the past 5 years. Deb's two children are students at UConn, and her father was a UConn professor. She was brought up traveling, as her father was posted to various positions around the world. Her organizational skills are fabulous, and she is a wonderful, caring tour escort for the alumni traveling on our programs. Her areas of specialty are Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

Debbie Vitelli

Debbie has been a part of the King Travelways family since 1983, and knows every corner of the travel business. She is a top-notch Travel Counselor, and is especially valuable in our Group Department, with the rare ability to design, put into operation, and even escort our groups. She knows every detail, with keen follow through from start to finish. Travel is in her soul, both professional and personal, and she knows the world inside and out. She herself has traveled throughout Europe and Africa. She is a certified diver, and is familiar with the best dive sites in the Caribbean. Now that she has a daughter, Kaitlyn, she is also becoming a Disney specialist! She can't wait 'til Kaitlyn is old enough to accompany her on safari to Kenya and Tanzania. Deb now lives on the Connecticut shoreline, which is pretty nice too!